Surface pulling apparatus with obstacle signaling

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus including a pair of spaced electrical conductive horizontal sheet members supported on a frame, the top sheet being surrounded by a peripheral wall defining a playing surface. A hand manipulatable vehicle, formed in the shape of a toy tugboat, is slidably supported on the playing surface and is used to push a second vehicle, formed in the shape of a toy barge, across the playing surface. The playing surface also is provided with a plurality of obstacles or hazards along a course between a starting position and an ending position. A circuit to an electrically actuated warning signal is completed through the conductive sheet members whenever the tugboat or barge abut one of the obstacles or hazards located on the playing surface. A timing device is provided in the form of a ball which rolls down an irregularly shaped inclined ramp to indicate the end of the allotted time period, during which a player must move the toy barge from the starting position to the ending position by pushing it with the tugboat, when the ball stops at the end or bottom of the inclined ramp.

United States Patent [1 1 Breslow Dec. 30, 1975 [75] Inventor: JeffreyD. Breslow, Highland Park,

Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

. Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 404,286

52] U.S.Cl. 273/108; 273/128 R; 273/1 E; ZOO/61.1 51 Int.Cl. ..A63F 9/00[58] Field of Search 273/108, 1 R, 1 E, 127 R, 273/118 A, 119 A, 120 A,121 A, 122 A, 126 A, 128 R; ZOO/61.1, 61.l1

Primary Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Assistant ExaminerMarvin SiskindAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Coffee & Sweeney [57] ABSTRACT A game apparatusincluding a pair of spaced electrical conductive horizontal sheetmembers supported on a frame, the top sheet being surrounded by aperipheral wall defining a playing surface. A hand manipulatablevehicle, formed in the shape of a toy tugboat, is slidably supported onthe playing surface and is used to push a second vehicle, formed in theshape of a toy barge, across the playing surface. The playing surfacealso is provided with a plurality of obstacles or hazards along a coursebetween a starting position and an ending position. A circuit to anelectrically actuated warning signal is completed through the conductivesheet members whenever the tugboat or barge abut one of the obstacles orhazards located on the playing surface. A timing device is provided inthe form of a ball which rolls down an irregularly shaped inclined rampto indicate the end of the allotted time period, during which a playermust move the toy barge from the starting position to the endingposition by pushing it with the tugboat, when the ball stops at the endor bottom of the inclined ramp.

13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 2 3,929,336

US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 US. Patent Dec.30, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,929,336

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relatesto 'gamesand in particular to a game of skill wherein a hand manipulatableplaying piece is to be moved from a starting position across a hazardouscourse to an ending position within a given time period.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and amusing game ofskill wherein players attempt to move a playing piece across an obstaclecourse including signal warning means which indicates when contact hasbeen made with an obstacle along the path of travel of the playingpiece.

The game apparatus also includes a timing device which signals the endof a time period during which the player must move the playing piecefrom the starting to the ending position without contacting theobstacles on the playing surface.

Further features, objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings.

A game of skill including an electrical conductive sheet membersupported on a frame and surrounded by a peripheral wall defining aplaying surface on top of the sheet member. A second electricalconductive sheet member is spaced on the underside of the first sheetmember and includes a plurality of rigidly mounted, upwardly directedconductive pins or studs which emerge through clearance holes in the topsheet member. All electrical warning bell is provided and is caused toring when one of the said pins is contacted by a conductive playingpiece which is slidably supported on the top sheet member therebycompleting an electrical circuit.

A hand manipulatable electrically conductive toy vehicle formed in theshape of a simulated tugboat is slidably supported on the playingsurface and is used to push a second freely movable electricallyconductive playing piece formed in the shape of a simulated barge from astarting position across the playing surface amongst the pins to anending position, the pins thereby defining an obstacle or hazard courseon the playing surface. If either of the playing pieces contacts anupwardly protruding pin, an electrical circuit will be completed throughthe sheet members thereby causing the warning bell to ring, signallingan unsuccessful attempt to reach the ending position by that player.

A timing device is provided in the form of a ball for rolling down anirregularly shaped inclined ramp. A predetermined time period thus isprovided within which the barge must be pushed by the tugboat from thestarting to the ending positions, in order to create a greater degree ofdifficulty in moving the playing pieces along the obstacle course.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thegame apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the game apparatus of FIG. 1, on anenlarged scale, with parts broken away to further the illustration;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG.2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the playingpieces and one of the obstacles shown relative to the spaced conductivesheets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game apparatus, generallydesignated in FIG. 1, includes a stiffly resilient, electricallyconductive sheet member 12 which is mounted on a frame, generallydesignated 14, and surrounded by a generally rectangular retaining wall16 which may be integrally molded with the frame 14, defining a playingsurface on top of sheet 12. The frame 14 includes an octagonal tower 18extending upwardly beyond the retaining wall 16 and includes a smallercylindrical top portion 20 which supports a timing ball 22 when the game10 is not in use.

Means providing for a timing mechanism include the timing ball 22 whichrolls down an inclined ramp 24 which is formed integrally with the framewalls 26. The ramp circumscribes the playing surface 12 as best seen inFIG. 2. Frame walls 26 project upwardly along the outside of theinclined ramp 24 thus preventing escapement of the timing ball 22. Inaddition, a plurality of semicircular detents 28 are provided along thesides of the inclined ramp 24 such that a straight path down theinclined ramp 24 between the detents 28 is smaller than the diameter ofthe timing ball 22 thus causing the ball 22 to travel in a zig-zagpattern as it rebounds between the detents 28.

The playing pieces include a pusher member 30 in the form of a toysimulated tugboat and a pushed member 32 in the form of a toy simulatedbarge which is capable of carrying various cargo pieces 34. One or bothof the playing pieces 30 and 32 are formed ofmetal or other similarelectrically conductive material. At each of the opposite ends of theplaying surface 12 there is located a nonconductive extension 36 of theconductive playing surface 12. This extended area may be moldedintegrally with the frame 14. These extensions can be determined by theplayers to be the starting and ending positions. Two pier or dock-likeraised portions 38, as best seen in FIG. 2, are formed at each extendedarea 36. Each dock 38 has a circular portion 40 on the corners whichsimulate piling or the like. The circular portions 40 extend upwardlypast the surface of the docks simulating means to which a vessel may besecured.

The obstacles on the playing surface 12 comprise a plurality of rigidlymounted pins or studs 44 each of which protrudes through a clearancehole 46 in the sheet member 12. The studs or pins 44 are secured attheir base to a second electrically conductive, stiffly resilient sheetmember 48 spaced from and beneath the first sheet member 12 such thatthe pins 44 do not contact the sheet member 12. The pins 44 also areelements of an electric circuit for a hazard warning device, generallydesignated 50, to be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. The objectof the game is to hand manipulate the tugboat 30 and push the barge 32across the playing surface provided by sheet member 12 from the startingposition to the ending position amongst the pins 44 within the allotedtime period without contacting any of the pins 44. With the pins 44spaced laterally and longitudinally between the starting and endingposition, as shown, an infinite number of alternate non-linear paths oftravel are provided between the pins or obstacles.

The conductive upper sheet member 12 and the lower sheet member 48 areelectrically connected in circuit with a pair of batteries 52 and anelectric motor 54 by means of electrically conductive wires 55a, 55b and550. The upper sheet 12 is connected to one end of a conductive batterybracket 53 by wire 55a. The lower sheet 48 is connected to motor 54 bywire 55b. The motor, in' turn, is connected to the other end of thebattery bracket by wire 55c.

The electric motor 54 is mounted on the inside of wall 26 of the frame14 with its rotating shaft 56 extending inwardly toward the center ofthe playing surface. Two loose fitting washers 58 are mounted on a crossbar 60 which rotates with the shaft 56. A bell 62 is mounted by means ofa stud 64 to the inside of wall 26 of the frame in proximity to themotor 54 such that when the motor 54 is energized and the cross bar 60is rotated, the washers will strike the bell 62 causing it to ring whilethe motor 54 remains energized. The motor 54 is energized when thetugboat 30 or the barge 32, should they both be electrically conductive,contacts one of the pins 44 allowing electrical current to travel fromthe pin 44, through the playing piece 30 or 32, to the upper sheetmember 12 which completes the circuit through the motor and thebatteries 52.

The stiffly resilient sheet members 12 and 48 are supported on the frameby a flange 68 around the circumference of the playing surface 12. Thesheet members are spaced apart by a nonconductive spacer 70. A centralrib 72 (FIG. 2) also is provided on the frame to give additional supportto the resilient sheet members.

The barge member 32 can be loaded with various cargo pieces 34 in orderto increase the difficulty of moving the barge across the obstaclecourse without contacting any of the pins 44.

The timing device, comprising the ball 22, ramp 24 and members 28,provides for an added challenge whereby a specific time period isallotted during which a player must move the tugboat 30 and barge 32from the starting 'position to the ending position. Without such atiming device a playercould move the toy playing pieces so slowly thathe would have a better chance that no contact with the obstacles orhazards provided by pins 44 would occur.

The degree of difficulty in pushing the barge 32 by the tugboat 30 willdepend to some extent also on the engaging surfaces therebetween. Asseen best in FIGS. 2 and 4, the barge is generally rectangularly shapedto provide generally straight side contacting surfaces. The tugboat istapered generally to the bow thereof, but does not terminate in a point.An enlarged rib 80 having a finite thickness is formed at the bow andprovides a flat engaging surface 80a (FIG. 4) of a given widthdetermined by the thickness of the rib.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specificdevice, it is to be understood that modifications are likely to occur toothers working in this field. For example, instead of using rigid pins44 which complete the circuit through the conductive playing pieces,pins could be used which deflect on contact with one of the playingpieces and the pins themselves, by contact with the upper sheet, wouldcomplete'the circuit, and such modifications could be made withoutdeparting from the principles involved.

I claim:

on the playing surface; means defining an obstacle course between saidpositions including a plurality of obstacles protruding upwardly fromsaid playing surface between said positions defining plural alternatepaths of travel between the obstacles; a hand manipulatable firstplaying piece having bottom surface means engageable with said playingsurface during play, and said playing surface between the obstaclesbeing generally flat and devoid of any guiding influencing structure forsaid playing piece and allowing for manual pushing by a player of theplaying piece freely in any direction .on the playing surface over saidobstacle course between said upwardly protruding obstacles; a freelymovable second playing piece which is capable of being pushed over saidplaying surface by the first playing piece so as to move the secondplaying piece along said obstacle course between the upwardly protrudingobstacles; and hazard warning means to signal when one of said playingpieces deviates from said obstacle course and engages one of saidobstacles.

2. The device of claim 1 including timing means for designating aspecific period of time in which a player must cause his playing piecesto traverse the obstacle course.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said first playing piece is in the formof a simulated toy tugboat having a tapered bow and said second playingpiece is in the form of a generally rectangular simulated toy barge.

4. A game apparatus, comprising: a frame; a pair of vertically spacedconductive sheet members insulatably mounted on said frame with theuppermost sheet member being surrounded by wall means defining a playingsurface on the top of the sheet member; means defining a startingposition on the playing surface; means defining an ending position onthe playing surface; means defining an obstacle course between saidpositions including obstacles protruding upwardly from said playingsurface, said obstacles comprising conductive members connected to thelowermost of said sheet members; a hand manipulatable first playingpiece for pushing by a player of the game along the playing surface oversaid obstacle course between said obstacles; a freely movable secondplaying piece which is capable of being pushed over said playing surfaceby the first playing piece so as to move the second playing piece alongsaid obstacle course between said obstacles; at least one of saidplaying pieces being electrically conductive; and hazard warning meanselectrically connected to said sheet members for rendering a signal whenan electrically conductive playing piece deviates from said obstaclecourse and engages one of said ohstacles and thereby electricallyconnects said sheet members. I

5. The game apparatus of claim 4 including timing means for designatiinga specific period of time in which a player must cause his playingpieces to traverse said obstacle course, said timing means including aninclined ramp on said frame substantially surrounding said playingsurface, means defining an irregular path along said ramp, and includinga ball rollably supported on the ramp whereby the ball must ricochet asit rolls.

l. A game apparatus, comprising: means defining a playing surface; meansdefining a starting position on the playing surface; means defining anending position period is equal to the length of time necessary for theball to roll from the top of the ramp to the bottom thereof.

6. The game apparatus of claim 4 wherein said obstacles comprisepin-like members mounted to the lower of said conductive sheet membersand protruding through an opening in the top sheet member and spacedfrom the edge of said opening whereby an electrical circuit isestablished for actuating the hazard warning means whenever anelectrically conductive playing piece engages a pin.

7. A game apparatus, comprising: means defining a playing surface; meansdefining a starting position on the playing surface; means defining anending position on the playing surface; means defining an obstaclecourse between said positions including obstacles protruding upwardlyfrom said playing surface; a hand manipulatable first playing piece forpushing by a player along the playing surface over said obstacle course;a freely movable second playing piece which is capable of being pushedover said playing surface by the first playing piece so as to move thesecond playing piece along said obstacle course; hazard warning means tosignal when one 'of said playing pieces deviates from said obstaclecourse and engages one of said obstacles; a pair of vertically spacedconductive sheet members the top one of which defines said playingsurface; and a contact member for electrically connecting said sheetmembers to establish an electrical circuit therethrough for actuatingthe hazard warning means whenever one of said playing pieces engages anobstacle.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said obstacles each comprise one ofsaid contact members.

9. A game apparatus, comprising: means defining a playing surface; meansdefining a starting position on the playing surface; means defining anending position on the playing surface; means defining an obstaclecourse between said positions including obstacles protruding upwardlyfrom said playing surface; a hand manipulatable first playing piece forpushing by a player along the playing surface over said obstacle course;a freely movable second playing piece which is capable of being pushedover said playing surface by the first playing piece so as to move thesecond playing piece along said obstacle course; haxard warning means tosignal when one of said playing pieces deviates from said obstaclecourse and engages at least one of said obstacles; one of said playingpieces being electrically conductive; a pair of vertically spacedconductive sheet members the top one of which defines said playingsurface; and a contact member for electrically connecting said sheetmembers to establish an electrical circuit therethrough for actuatingthe hazard warning means whenever one of said playing pieces engages anobstacle.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said obstacles each comprise one ofsaid contact members.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said contact member is a pin mountedto the lower of said conductive sheet members.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said pin protrudes through an openingin said top sheet member and is disposed in a spaced relationship fromthe edge of said opening whereby an electrical circuit is establishedfor actuating the hazard warning means whenever one of said conductiveplaying pieces engages the pin.

13. A game apparatus, comprising: means defining a playing surface;means defining a starting position on the playing surface; meansdefining an ending position on the playing surface; means defining anobstacle course between said positions including a pluralityof obstaclesprotruding upwardly from said playing surface between said positions,said obstacles being spaced longitudinally as well as laterally betweensaid positions defining infinite alternate non-linear paths of travelbetween the obstacles; a hand manipulatable first playing piece havingbottom surface means engageable with said playing surface during playfor manual pushing by a player of the playing piece freely in anydirection on the playing surface along any of said paths of travel oversaid obstacle course between said upwardly protruding obstacles; afreely movable second playing piece which is capable of being pushedover said playing surface by the first playing piece so as to move thesecond playing piece along said obstacle course between the upwardlyprotruding obstacles; and hazard warning means to signal when one ofsaid playing pieces deviates from said obstacle course and engages oneof said obstacles.

1. A game apparatus, comprising: means defining a playing surface; meansdefining a starting position on the playing surface; means defining anending position on the playing surface; means defining an obstaclecourse between said positions including a plurality of obstaclesprotruding upwardly from said playing surface between said positionsdefining plural alternate paths of travel between the obstacles; a handmanipulatable first playing piece having bottom surFace means engageablewith said playing surface during play, and said playing surface betweenthe obstacles being generally flat and devoid of any guiding influencingstructure for said playing piece and allowing for manual pushing by aplayer of the playing piece freely in any direction on the playingsurface over said obstacle course between said upwardly protrudingobstacles; a freely movable second playing piece which is capable ofbeing pushed over said playing surface by the first playing piece so asto move the second playing piece along said obstacle course between theupwardly protruding obstacles; and hazard warning means to signal whenone of said playing pieces deviates from said obstacle course andengages one of said obstacles.
 2. The device of claim 1 including timingmeans for designating a specific period of time in which a player mustcause his playing pieces to traverse the obstacle course.
 3. The deviceof claim 1 wherein said first playing piece is in the form of asimulated toy tugboat having a tapered bow and said second playing pieceis in the form of a generally rectangular simulated toy barge.
 4. A gameapparatus, comprising: a frame; a pair of vertically spaced conductivesheet members insulatably mounted on said frame with the uppermost sheetmember being surrounded by wall means defining a playing surface on thetop of the sheet member; means defining a starting position on theplaying surface; means defining an ending position on the playingsurface; means defining an obstacle course between said positionsincluding obstacles protruding upwardly from said playing surface, saidobstacles comprising conductive members connected to the lowermost ofsaid sheet members; a hand manipulatable first playing piece for pushingby a player of the game along the playing surface over said obstaclecourse between said obstacles; a freely movable second playing piecewhich is capable of being pushed over said playing surface by the firstplaying piece so as to move the second playing piece along said obstaclecourse between said obstacles; at least one of said playing pieces beingelectrically conductive; and hazard warning means electrically connectedto said sheet members for rendering a signal when an electricallyconductive playing piece deviates from said obstacle course and engagesone of said obstacles and thereby electrically connects said sheetmembers.
 5. The game apparatus of claim 4 including timing means fordesignatiing a specific period of time in which a player must cause hisplaying pieces to traverse said obstacle course, said timing meansincluding an inclined ramp on said frame substantially surrounding saidplaying surface, means defining an irregular path along said ramp, andincluding a ball rollably supported on the ramp whereby the ball mustricochet as it rolls down the ramp along said path whereby said timingperiod is equal to the length of time necessary for the ball to rollfrom the top of the ramp to the bottom thereof.
 6. The game apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein said obstacles comprise pin-like members mounted to thelower of said conductive sheet members and protruding through an openingin the top sheet member and spaced from the edge of said opening wherebyan electrical circuit is established for actuating the hazard warningmeans whenever an electrically conductive playing piece engages a pin.7. A game apparatus, comprising: means defining a playing surface; meansdefining a starting position on the playing surface; means defining anending position on the playing surface; means defining an obstaclecourse between said positions including obstacles protruding upwardlyfrom said playing surface; a hand manipulatable first playing piece forpushing by a player along the playing surface over said obstacle course;a freely movable second playing piece which is capable of being pushedover said playing surface by the first playing piece so as to move thesecond playing piece along said obstacle course; hazard warning means tosignal when one of said playing pieces deviates from said obstaclecourse and engages one of said obstacles; a pair of vertically spacedconductive sheet members the top one of which defines said playingsurface; and a contact member for electrically connecting said sheetmembers to establish an electrical circuit therethrough for actuatingthe hazard warning means whenever one of said playing pieces engages anobstacle.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said obstacles each compriseone of said contact members.
 9. A game apparatus, comprising: meansdefining a playing surface; means defining a starting position on theplaying surface; means defining an ending position on the playingsurface; means defining an obstacle course between said positionsincluding obstacles protruding upwardly from said playing surface; ahand manipulatable first playing piece for pushing by a player along theplaying surface over said obstacle course; a freely movable secondplaying piece which is capable of being pushed over said playing surfaceby the first playing piece so as to move the second playing piece alongsaid obstacle course; haxard warning means to signal when one of saidplaying pieces deviates from said obstacle course and engages at leastone of said obstacles; one of said playing pieces being electricallyconductive; a pair of vertically spaced conductive sheet members the topone of which defines said playing surface; and a contact member forelectrically connecting said sheet members to establish an electricalcircuit therethrough for actuating the hazard warning means whenever oneof said playing pieces engages an obstacle.
 10. The device of claim 9wherein said obstacles each comprise one of said contact members. 11.The device of claim 10 wherein said contact member is a pin mounted tothe lower of said conductive sheet members.
 12. The device of claim 11wherein said pin protrudes through an opening in said top sheet memberand is disposed in a spaced relationship from the edge of said openingwhereby an electrical circuit is established for actuating the hazardwarning means whenever one of said conductive playing pieces engages thepin.
 13. A game apparatus, comprising: means defining a playing surface;means defining a starting position on the playing surface; meansdefining an ending position on the playing surface; means defining anobstacle course between said positions including a plurality ofobstacles protruding upwardly from said playing surface between saidpositions, said obstacles being spaced longitudinally as well aslaterally between said positions defining infinite alternate non-linearpaths of travel between the obstacles; a hand manipulatable firstplaying piece having bottom surface means engageable with said playingsurface during play for manual pushing by a player of the playing piecefreely in any direction on the playing surface along any of said pathsof travel over said obstacle course between said upwardly protrudingobstacles; a freely movable second playing piece which is capable ofbeing pushed over said playing surface by the first playing piece so asto move the second playing piece along said obstacle course between theupwardly protruding obstacles; and hazard warning means to signal whenone of said playing pieces deviates from said obstacle course andengages one of said obstacles.